Tuesday, December 30, 2008

It's My Party, I'll Cry If I Want To

Today I am turning 3o. I don't really feel thirty most of the time, although to be fair, I don't really know what thirty feels like. To force me into acceptance, I did receive the following letter a few weeks ago....
Now I know that I am getting older, but I don't really feel that I am at the hearing aid stage yet.

Everyone tells me that your thirties are better than your twenties. I guess I'll see. Maybe in my thirties I will learn how to manage my money better. Maybe in my thirties I might have a date. Maybe in my thirties I can do more than live paycheck to paycheck. Maybe in my thirties I can pay off my credit cards, and my car. Maybe in my thirties I will have kids.

Since my birthday is so close to the beginning of the new year, every year I think of things I want to change in the coming year, even more than others do, I think. Sometimes my goals are unrealistic and sometimes they aren't, but I never really keep them. The other thing I never do is share them. But I'm thirty now, and it is time to grow up. How can I make serious changes unless I openly face and admit to what I want to change? So here goes.....

1. I am overweight. I weigh more now than I ever have in my life and I can feel it. If I am going to change, I have to change NOW. I hate the way I look in the mirror and I hate the way I feel in clothes. I want to be healthy more than I want to be thin and I think (I hope) that makes a difference. Mom gave me the "Eat This, Not That" books and I really like them.

2. I will give up all fast food immediately and eliminate Diet Coke by the end of the school year. I don't like the way it makes me feel and it is expensive.

3. I will cook at least 4 nights a week and not be so reluctant in the kitchen. Learning new recipes is part of being an adult and even though I don't like cooking, it is a necessary evil that I need to deal with.

4. I will attend church every Sunday and work on my relationship with God, which is not where it should be.

I hope these are realistic goals. I know none of them really have to do with money, but I feel that accomplishing these goals will eventually help me accomplish my financial goals as well.

So.....I'm thirty. Kind of excited to see what happens next!

12 comments:

Jeanne Estridge said...

Visiting via the SITS roll call....

In February I'll turn 55, so from that faraway perspective let me share with you that 30 was my worst birthday ever. It felt like I was getting so old, not accomplishing any of the things I wanted to do with my life and, frankly, not very happy.

But my thirties were better than my twenties, I started accomplishing some of the things I wanted to do and life got better. And my forties were even better. And even though I got a invitation to join AARP right on my 50th birthday (how rude is that?), my fifties have been pretty good so far, too.

Congratulations on being willing to put yourself, and your goals, out there for the world to read. It's a great first step to a life you're going to love!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!! I really hope you have an amazing year!
You have great goals and I think you should be proud to accomplish any of them! I'll definitely join you on a few!

Elizabeth M Thompson said...

Happy 30th Birthday. 30 was a magical year for me! I met and married Mr. Wonderful. Truly, I did. Still married, too. So there is plenty of hope for you.

I also started writing more seriously at 30. I began to get a feel for what really matters to me. Then followed it.

Your resolutions are great and I bet the more you work on #4, the more God will work on the others!

Have a happy birthday and a blessed New Year. And keep your SITSahs posted on your life.

Green said...

Happy Birthday!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!!!

And I can almost PROMISE that your 30's will BLOW your 20's away. Oh how I have loved them!!!

I think those sound like good goals!!!!

Anonymous said...

My daughter turned 30 a couple of months ago. No one takes you seriously until you are 30, and I loved being in my 30s and 40s. It is such a busy couple of decades though, so slow down, and enjoy the days. Trust me, in 26 years you'll be 56 and wishing you could recapture a few of those days.

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Melissa B. said...

Happy Birthday to you! Hope your 2009 is fine!

Just say Julie said...

I turned 30 in March. It was a scary day, kind of sad, but I've loved it so far. One of the goals I made for myself was to get healthy (in shape, eat better, etc.) This year I tackled the get in shape part with Crossfit. I would tell you to immediately find an afiliate near you and check it out. I can assure you that I don't look anything like what I did while at BHS anymore, but I feel soooo much happier with myself after a year of crossfit. I will join you on the cooking adventure. How about you and Durk and I work on a cooking pact?

Colleen said...

I totally agree with the cooking at home thing! I am in desperate search for meals that are small. As a fellow single gal (I am just accepting the single-hood), I do not want to spend a ton of money to make meals for 4 when I am only 1...maybe 2 if I am really hungry.
Also right there with ya on the Church thing.

Good luck!!

The Joynes Girls said...

I'm 32, but I can tell that my 30s are better than my 20s. I was an idiot in my 20s. Okay, my early twenties were a trainwreck, and I got gradually better at not being an idiot by the time I was 30. I was married and pregnant when I was 30.

By the way, I love your blog. It looks cool and teachers always have interesting insights! Good luck in 2009 and your 30s are going to be great!

--Leann-- said...

Happy Birthday!!

I'll be turning 30 this year too. Not too excited about it. In fact, I've declared I'm NOT having a birthday this year!

But... it's not til December. I've still got some time to get used to it.

Good luck with your goals. They all sound like good things for anybody to do at any age!


Poppin on over from SITS.
Leann